Two Weeks to Go!

Yup. It is finally here. TK's graduation and a much anticipated trip to China to visit our family! It amazes me that this little bun will be traveling around the world... albeit in a very contained travel compartment.

There is much to do before we ship off. Including my next doctor's appointment. Hopefully, we will be able to schedule an ultrasound to see if we can scope out the sex of this babe while TK's family is here for his graduation. That would be fun!

Oh yes, the appetite has returned. Although, it is mainly for chocolate and chips. D'oh! Not the salad, watermelon, and cheese cravings I had with Wiley. Hmmm... where is that Oreo?

Expect a New Pastry in April!

Tah-dah!



What with TK finishing up school and Willem entering potty training days, we thought we should spice up our life with a new family member! We are about 12 weeks along the 40 week road. Today we had our first ultrasound. A real delight to see that new little human wiggling around. The doctor said all looked well and that the babe was very responsive (ie: it didn't like being poked at).

Willem knows there is a brother or sister coming his way but I am quite sure he has not grasped what that will entail!

I ran over to show our sweet neighbors the ultrasound photos and the grandmother said she was sure it would be a girl. Evidently she has a good track record with these things. I will be happy with whatever arrives!

Here we go!

Built it!

Well, I managed to muster up enough courage to go out in the damp, cool outside to finish building Willem's sandbox. We decided he needed a more distinguished spot to wear/dig/ingest/throw/push/kick/etc. dirt (sand). So we built him a sandbox. After shopping at Ross's Hardware Store for the needed wood screws we got the job done. I think Willem is happy with it and so am I. Just need to make that anti-feline device!

I was going to be all crafty and use the Pythagorean Theorem but in the end I mostly used the ol' eyeballs to square it up. Good intentions and all...

And Time Passes

I doubt anyone is still checking this blog after the months and months of decline but... just so there is an official record!

February and March have been quite eventful for Willem. He went off the mommy-milk-bar permanently (and without much fuss), he had his first 100% dry night, and he said "I love you, mommy" for the first time without prodding, first Lutfisk dinner and he had his first easter egg dying session and hunt.

We are very happy to have spring springing because we were getting the winter blahs pretty bad. Now the tulips and daffodils are all blooming and the birds are chirping away! Todd, Willem and I tilled up the garden and put some new topsoil in in preparation for some yummy veggies this summer.

This summer should be wonderful! We are most excited about the knot tying for Amber and Manu!! YEA! Willem knows what is going on and is ready to chime in with some "I do"'s. Their wedding will be the BIG event this summer and then there will be the home improvement events like: house painting, waterproofing, tiling, etc. And just maybe this week Willem and I will build a sandbox!

He is enjoying playing around in the dirt now with his veritable fleet of dump trucks and cars. Might as well give him his own personal (cat safe) sand.

Lilly's First Birthday

This is Lilly.
Lilly is one year old.



This is Lilly's cake.



This is Thomas and Willem in Lilly's kennel.



Happy Birthday Lilly!

Dentifrice et Wedding Gowns

Auntie Amber is getting hitched!! Willem gets to see the gown in the final fitting... but first he has to get ready for the day.

Halloween and the Blue Devil

Super Dukie to the rescue!!

Duet and Solo - Bravisimo!

Aunt Judy and Willem perform a duet in the parlor.



Willem performs much anticipated solo.

Baby Behind Glass

Aunt Judy is visiting from Florida. Willem loves showing off his crazy side for her!

Autumn Upon Us

FINALLY... there is a chill in the air and the leaves have changed (that is, those that had not already fallen dead due to our extreme drought). I love autumn - the layering of clothing, the joy of hot cocoa, the promise of change, and - of course - the FOOD! Mmmmmm... I tried my hand at some eclectic Chicken and Dumpling recipe that Whole foods had in their recipe box. Mmmmmm... it was very good. Nothing at all like the traditional dish but quite tasty and surprising. I have never cooked Swiss Chard and would have never put it in Chicken and Dumplings.

Willem seems to be loving fall as well. He has been sleeping in bed with us and taking up about 2/3 of the space as soaks up the warmth. I am just not so sure his room is warm enough. I need to find some of those "footy" pj's. In the morning when Todd and I are having coffee he gets to have his hot cocoa. He asks for it, too. First thing he does when his feet hit the floor is to run to the kitchen and grip the counter saying over and over again in his baby voice, "Ha cocOA! Ha cocOA! Ha cocOA!"

He is also turning into quite a friendly little chap. In the grocery store he about falls out of the cart as he waves at other shoppers. "HIHIHIHIHIHIHI!" He startled a woman refolding sweaters in a store on Tuesday. He stood a few feet away and kept saying 'hi' until she noticed that he was talking to her. I thought she was going to cry! She said it totally made her day. That's my boy!!

Well, I will leave you with some pictures and little movies... it has been a long time so bear with me!

Pollock Tendancies

A year and a week

TK took me out for a fabu dinner at Nannas. WOW. I mean really. WOW! Our little boy is a year old and we have three "married" years under the belt :) As I told Tk it is like we have been together for lifetimes with little intermissions. Life keeps getting more exciting and more action packed... who knows where the next turn in the road will take us!

Bragging Rights

My son, who is a mere 368 days old, peed in his baby potty today.


And the trees, water, and bank accounts rejoice as they see relief in sight!

(To be replaced with some other drain.)

GO WILLEM!!! That's my boy!!!

Bubble Baby

Nap Interupted

Things are moving right along here... Todd goes back to school for Part II this week, Willem turns ONE YEAR OLD in a few days, and the house is actually getting painted! Within a few short weeks Willem has progressed from walking along the furniture to walking across the whole house in chase of Poushy, Misha, Daddy, or myself. He is cutting two more bottom teeth. Those will bring the grand total to EIGHT teeth!

We have also been having a great time with our "playgroup" (that being one other mom-baby set). The cute little girl, "A", and Willem are exciting to watch. They have played peek-a-boo together around furniture and are encouraging each other's development. Also, not a bad situation for me at all as I really enjoy the talk time with the mom! YEAH!

We had a great 4th of July out on the water with my parent's and Amber and Manuel! I think almost all of us had a chance to rescue hats or toys out of the water. We saw some Bald Eagles-freshly removed from the Endangered Species List-and some other fowl. Willem had a chance to wade in his birthday suit while my father and Manuel took a real swim in the middle of the lake! Hope summer is going well for everyone!

Dog Pillow Days of Summer

Willem and Misha continue to grow this cool bond, I believe it is built upon a mutual love of snack crackers and rolling around on the living room rug!

Early Steps

Our trip to Florida was lots of fun! Family, friends, water and sun... and a touch of some sort of bug that put mommy out of commision for a day... but other than that we had a lovely time! Here is a little clip por vous. Sorry for the sidewaysness.

(So... I tried in vain to post the version of this movie with the fun credits, title, etc. but to no avail. WIllem is still cute as a button. Hope ya'll don't get a kink in your neck trying to watch!)

Napping Strategy

Well. I have discovered how to get Willem to sleep when all else fails: Muppet SHow videos on Youtube. This is the second time he fell asleep while watching! I think the key is (1.) the Muppets are interesting enough to watch but (2.) not big enough (watching in small frame) or loud enough to keep him riled up. It also helps that the Muppet Show is one of the few things he would sit still for! Yeah! Now on to dirty dishes!

Coming Soon: Willem blows bubbles under water!

Boogie!

Willem has acquired a new skill: dancing!! Mommy got a stereo for Mother's Day (thanks babe!) so now we have access to our killer beats in the living room!

Cribbing Defined

For any of you that are familiar with the equine OCD "Cribbing"... I have just discovered the source of the term.